Zidonians

the inhabitants of Zidon. They were among the nations of Canaan; left to give the Israelites practice in the art of war, ( Judges 3:3 ) and colonies of them appear to have spread up into the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephothmaim, ( Joshua 13:4Joshua 13:6 ) whence in later times they hewed cedar trees for David and Solomon. ( 1 Chronicles 22:4 ) They oppressed the Israelites on their first entrance into the country, ( Judges 10:12 ) and appear to have lived a luxurious, reckless life. ( Judges 18:7 ) They were skillful in hewing timber, ( 1 Kings 5:8 ) and were employed for this purpose by Solomon. They were idolaters, and worshipped Ashtoreth as their tutelary goddess, ( 1 Kings 11:51 Kings 11:33 ; 2 Kings 23:13 ) as well as the sun-god Baal from whom their king was named. ( 1 Kings 16:31 )